More details on Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ released
The local and regional film world buzzed when word started trickling in around spring 2020 about “Killers of the Flower Moon” being filmed in and around Pawhuska, OK.
Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, the film follows members of the Osage tribe in Oklahoma in the 1920s who are murdered under mysterious circumstances, sparking a major F.B.I. investigation involving J. Edgar Hoover.
Production of the film reached into Kansas from Oklahoma, with some actors and production crew members with ties to Kansas.
Questions have been swirling around about “Flower Moon’s” release date and opening. More details were released this week. Here’s what we know (dates and details are subject to change):
THE SOURCE MATERIAL
Scorsese’s film is based on David Grann’s non-fiction book “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.” The book investigates a series of murders that plagued the Osage people in Osage County, OK, during the 1920s after valuable oil was discovered on their land.
Production was set to begin in March 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed filming until mid-2021. The film’s budget was reportedly around $200 million.
WORLD PREMIERE AT CANNES
The line-up for the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France was unveiled this week, and it was officially announced that “Killers of the Flower Moon” will make its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May (out of competition). This marks Scorsese’s first narrative feature at Cannes since he won the Best Director award for 1985’s “After Hours.”
For more information on the Cannes Film Festival, go to https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/the-films-of-the-official-selection-2023/.
THEATRICAL AND STREAMING
Apple Original Films has set a theatrical release date for “Flower Moon,” which will open in select cities on Oct. 6 before expanding nationwide on Oct. 20, ahead of a release on Apple TV+.
By the way, Apple is on a hot streak after last year’s best picture Oscar win for “Coda.” Expect a big Oscar push for “Flower Moon,” as well.
RUNNING TIME
Deadline first reported that Scorsese locked his cut of “Killers of the Flower Moon” at 3 hours and 26 minutes. That’s three minutes shorter than “The Irishman” (his longest movie).
THE FIRST-LOOK PHOTO
Apple debuted the first official photo from “Killers of the Flower Moon” on May 10, 2021. The image shows Leonardo DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart and Lily Gladstone as Mollie Burkhart. (Word is this will be Gladstone’s breakout role — it was highly coveted).
DOING HOMEWORK
Indiewire reports that Scorsese and DiCaprio and others met with members and leaders of the Osage Nation to ensure the film, story and characters would be represented accurately. Several representatives from the Osage Nation served as tribal consultants in many different capacities. I have several friends involved with the production.
SCORSESE’S REGULARS
Scorsese again works with two of his favorite onscreen collaborators: Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio. The two Oscar winners previously starred together in the 1993 drama “This Boy’s Life.”
Longtime Scorsese collaborator and Oscar winner Thelma Schoonmaker is again editor. Also longtime collaborator Robbie Robertson again is on music duty.
This story was originally published April 21, 2023 at 4:36 AM.